Machine for making baskets



June 26, 1928.

E. CRAIG MACHINE FOR MAKING BASKETS Filed March 2 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 liw envtp 7 Edward /agg' M Jmine 26, 1928. 1,675,094

E. CRAIG MACHINE FOR MAKING BASKETS Filed March 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 26, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT/OFFICE.

EDWARD CRAIG, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGALIQQALSSIGNOR T0 SARANAC AUTOMATIC MACHINE CORPORATION, OF BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

MACHINE FOR MAKIN BASKETS.

Application filed itarch '26, 1924. Serial o. 701,911.

' This application is subordinate to and covers; an im' rovement'upon the structure shown, descri ed and claimed in'the co pending application Serial Noi 699,233, filed on the1'4th day of March, '1924. 3

'fThis'invention r'elatesto machinery for making basketsp'moreparticularly to machines for making bushel-baskets, .or half- .bushel baskets, or other baskets of Similar shape, having both ends thereof left open, the basket being frusto-conicat in. form, whereby the smaller end of the basket is open, as well as the. larger end, before the basketjis filled, and "whereby two closures are necessary for the' open top andbottoin of the basket. Generally stated, the object, ofv the invention is to provide an improvedand simple and highly ellicient arrangement whereby one basket form may be loaded while another basket formis rotating. in fron'tof the stapling mechanism, so that one basket is being made on one form while another basket is being assembled on the other form, and whereby the basket forms and the stapling mechanismhave back and forth relative lateral movement, first in one Idi-' rcction and then in theopp'ositej direction, in order to substitute the freshly loaded form for the other form 'from' which the finished basket has been removed.' Another object is to provide an improved construct-ion and arrangement of this character whereby said relative movement is obtained by positively shifting the stapling mechanism from one form to the other, so that the basket forms have stationary .positions. each form being adapted to rotatein front of the stapling mechanism. of c'ourse, when said mechanism is shifted into operative relation with either form.

It is also an object to provide certain de tails and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the 'general efliciency and the desirability of a basket making machine of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings-in which,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a basket making machine embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 a plan of said machine.

F ig:-3: is a perspective of one of the baskets' made by said machine. -As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a suitable body 1 upon which the various operating parts are mounted in a suitable position thereon. The top of said body has the 'two basket forms 2 and 3 inount-ed thereon, each adapted to rotate about'itsvertical axis 4, and each form heing"pro'vided at its-bottom with a ratchet wheel 5," as shown. These -'=basket forms taper n warmy, it will be seen, 'and are therefore frust'o coni'ca'l 'in' form. Each basketf ormjlias a top ring 6 anda bottom rin -7, against which the inner hoops 'of the has et are placed before the form is loaded. Th'ere'is also'a center ring 8 which serves as afmeans for 'clinching'the' middle rows of staples '9 of the basket, which staples are insertedthroughthe middle hoop 10 which encircles the basket. The staples 11 are inse'rted throughthe outer hoop 12 of the basket, and then through the inner hoop of the basket and against the ring-6, so that these "staples"are properly clinched. The staples 13am inserted ati'egular intervalsjthrough the outer h'oop 14 at-the larger end of the basket, and through the staves 15, as are the other lstap'lesl,"an'd then through the inner hoop and against the ring 7, whereby these staples area-1 o elinched. The said staves 15 are assembled by inserting them under the clips or holders 16, arranged in two circular rows on each form, of any suitable character, so that one vertical edge of each stave is securely held in place when the staves are all assembled loosely on the form. "Of; course, the two inner hoops are first 'placed on the form, and then the staves are placed in position, so that the loaded form isthenrea'dv to be brought into operative relation to the" stapling mechanism.

The said stapling mechanism comprises the three staplers 17 arranged, as shown, op-

posite the rings 6, 7 and 8, these staplers being of any suitable known or approved character, and the stationary heads or housings of the staplers being mounted on the vertical bracket arm 18, which is suitably supported by the body of the machine. The three staplers are arranged at different distances from theaxis of the basket form, as shown, so that the staplers will be a uniform dlstance from their respective rings on the lOtl v ketand secured in place thereon. s

basketform. lhe different staplersare opcrated by-cam or eccentricudevices 19 .on. tlie vertical shaft 20, which latter extendsdown- \a ardly ,through bearings in the body 1 previously mentioned. Rotation of this shaft will actuate all three staplers simultaneously, so that the three circular ,rowsof staples will be formed simultaneousl in the basket. The bracket 18 is cm ecte(i ,-,by,;a braqket arm 21 with the top of the shaft 20, so that the latter hasa bearing at its upperiend.

Vire feeding devices 22 Jean :be supported upon the-NerticaI bracket arm i18,: in operative relation to --the; different staplers, so 4 a staple :wire :willabe fedato thegguide tubes 23 leading-to their respective Staplers.- flit is obvious ihat :these wire feed devices .canbe operated in any suitable or-desi-red v manner.

These wire -feed .devices, of course, ,are dis- H posed ione above-anathemso: thatthe tubes 23 are disposed one above. anothengin operative relation to their grespeetiye staplers, which latter are ialso arrangedoneabove another'iand ;operiated horizontally and at right angles to. the axes of theivbasket terms as well as at might angles to the axis -about which the stapling T mechanismj'. is movable from -.one -ba'sket"form to another. Thus, the shaft -not,onlyi serves as the means by -forms the axis about which the ..stapling mechanism -is movable i tromone itorm {to -another, .in ,the manner ,explained.

Furthermore, -;it wi llbe seen -l hat; the vhoops 10, E12 and 14,are preferably. formed from strips which-are fed tel-thebagket, while-it is rotating in 'front: of the stapling :mechanism, andl'for the purpose .of feed ng these hoop strips,- guides-24 are prefeltably provided and mounted upon the ,vertieallyfliswill :be seen, areoppositeqthe rings 5, 7

and 8, so that the hoop strips-are fed in proper position to receive the staples from the three staplers, in .sueh amanner that each strip is gradually bent aroundthe has The said stapling mechanism must be shifted from one basket formito the other and back again, .in.,order to oo-operatewith each basket ,for1 n -For -th is purl pose, there fore. the vertically disposed support ,or

bracket arm 18 is prejerably mounted ,upon

a swinging .member 27. which is supported by the body 1 and which swings about the shaft-20 115 an axis. The onter endportion Y .of this member Q'Zswings in a-.c l 1 nved guide 28 .of any suitable charaeter, which gu deis "also supported by-the bodyvof themachine.

Thus, when this-member 27is swung from one side to the ,other, it carries the entire stapling mechanism with it, and for the purpose of .accomplishing this shifting mov men heaii 2 4s. conn t d y 'a link 29 with a crank arm 30 mounted to swing abou t' a pivotal point 3 l on the laterally extending bracket arm 32 of the "body of the machine. The pinion38 is rigid with the arm .30, and rotates about the airis point 31, and is engaged by an oscillatory gear segment 3 i supported at a pivotal point 35 on tiller the motio -em il.,form ii eat or I thes nl ea sshanismi -il',3i Q i-P )l a s ip qvided. on i h i ndt the r et-Ma the latter beirigiconr ected by a pitinari ,rod wi h al i se e vic 9 the/ f 20, previously, mentioned. The arm 38 is so supported that the reciprocatiomof the .pit- .1 I 1an39 roauses ,the pawlq37 t0 ,aQtuate-thc na tchet ,w heel .5 previously mentioned, fbf either .f0C .I .thuS ;iI Qrrriittent1y; TOtating either ,basket form in front of; the;stapling .mee an sm- .-.will;he.i .nds st d, o r that this ratchet feed [mechanism ,for the ket i m? 5 si tim d n t esitat n that the ibasket torn; isustationaryanihile three staples are being inserted therein the three staplers, ,andiis then, rota-ted a step .before the next staples a're. driven, "whereby the driving pf. staples i alterna tes iththe "feeding motion .of the ratchet mechanism by which the forms are rotated. i

The lowerendoithe 20 is provided 'with abevel piniorror gearjll vhich engages the other: bevel gear or pinion ;42 on the horizontallydispofsed shaft !;3 mounted in suit- .able.bearingsontl ebody frame. This ll0ll ,zjontalshaft 43 has a driving pulley 4A, and

power from vtheIpulley totheshaft ,is controlled through the medium of suitable Clutch 45, of any kr owri or approved ,form, controlled bya footlever 51:6,whereby the retation of thesliaft 29 can be started and ws onp di wi l.

also, ifdesired, aiband brake 4,7, of any suitable character, can be applied to the shaft 20, thereby to prevent over rotation .of this =sha ft, andto permit the rotation of the shaft to beistopped promptly'as soon as the basket. is finished.

As thus illustrated, therefore, the basket forms and staplingmechanism have relative lateral movement, in a back and forth .man-

ner, notwithstanding that the basket forms are mounted in stationary position, for, .in efiect, first one basket form and then the other is brought into operative relation to Lei 5,694

the stapling mechanism. This relativemovement is preferably obtained by positively moving or shifting the st a pling mechanism itself, from one basket form to the other and back again whereby one basket form can be loaded while the other basket form iscooperating with the stapling mechanism to 4 finishedbasket wliiclil asfjiist been'stapled canth'enbe easily removed b'ylifting it upwardlyfrom the basket 'form, the staplin mechanism having been I swung" for enough away, of course, to permit this to be easily and conv'enient'ly do'nel Thus the relative lateral movement between the basket form and thesta'plin'g' mechanism not only permits another basket form tobebrought'into operativ relation to lthle' stapling mechanism, but also per mits asufiiciently wide separation of the .basket forin f and "the st'apling mechanism to facilitate the directhpward removal of thefinished basket from thefo'rm upon which it was stapledPwith the stapling mechanism in operative relation to the basket form, ,andfbecau'se ofthe arrangement of the staplers in the' manner shown d es e h nc nveni ewe-dimcult y might be e perienced f1 lifting the ffini'shed basket upwardly ffronifthe basket form, but anysuch'difliculty obviated enthe basket form and the mechanism, asby such movement thfstapling. mechanism ismo've'd far enough away top'erinit free andeasyremoval, in a direct-upward manner, of'the finished basket lfrom the form upon which it was stapled \Vith the construction shown and described, it will be seen that the forms 2 and 3 can be mounted upon a vertical axis in a manner involving some friction, solthat the ratchet pawl device 37 will not over-feed,'so to speak, while either form is being intermittently rotated, whereby each form will' be fed or partially rotated'eiiactlyfthe length of a tooth on the ratchet wheel 5, eacli timethe pawl is actuated after staples are driven. It will also be seen, ofrcoursc, that t-he two operating positions ofthe stapling mechanism can be predetermined inany suitable or desired manner, and that asshown, for example, the length o f the bracket-arm 30 is such thatwhen swungjback and forth between two diametricallyopposite positions or points, the stapling mechanism will be swung from its operative position'in relation to one form to its operative position in relation to the other form. j lherewill be suflicient friction, of course,"asbetween the vention.

member 27 and the parts upon which it swings'or slides, to hold it'in' either position, so that the stapling mechanism will not be liable to be jarred out of its operative position while co-operating with either form.

'Eajc h. basket formgtherefore, has two ope rative positions, .firs't, its position in operative relation to the stapling mechanism, and,

second, its loadingposition." There are no other operative positions for either form, relatively to the stapling' mechanism and with the construction shown and described theloading'position of eachform is exactly the sameas its stapling position, in viewof the fact thatthe relative movement between the forms and 'the stapling mechanism is pi'oducedby positive movement of the mechanism itself] Therefore, ais shown and descr1bed,. the stapling mechanism hastwo'operative positions, or a plurality of operative positions, and each operativeposition is opposite a difierentbasket form; Two basket forms aresho'wn and described',.but it will be understood that any Siritable or desired number of basket formsjcanfbe employed witho t. departing from "thespirit of the in- Thus j the; relative ingiveni'ent between the basket fornisand thej'sta'pling mechanism is on a curved-line s'truckjjfr'om the'center or axis at one side 'of the machine, the stapling mechanism @being I. disposed between said -axis and thecurved line or circle upon which "the axes of the basket forms are located'and whichfis struck from the'same axis. other words, it'will beobserved that the "vertical axes; of the basket forms are necessarily located on a"circ'le struck from the axis represented by the shaft 20. and in Viewf o'f the swinging movement of the stapling mechanism, to produce the relative movement between the basket forms and the stapling mechanism, it'follows that such relative-movement is on a curved line instead of being'on 'a'straight line. The pawl 37 is easily transferred from engagement with one ratchet wheelfi to the other, for this pawl is pivoted on the arm 38, as explained, and is spring pressed, so that it can swing in either direction relatively to the arm 3 8,'but by reason of the spring pressure (such .as a spring, not shown, in the pivot j'ointot the pawl), said pawl is yieldingly pressed against the ratchet wheel. When thearm or lever 38 is vibrated about its axis, being pivoted on some suitable sta tionary portion of the machine, as shown, it will cause the pawl 37 to move backward to engage another tooth, when the rod 39 is pulled toward the shaft 20, in a manner that will be readily understood. On the other hand, when the rod 39 .is pushed away from .the shaft 20, by the eccentric device 40, then the toggle joint between the arm 38 and the pawl 37 is straightened out, causing the devices pawl to extend itself endwise to push the ratchet wheel 5,around ,a distance, thusgiving the basket form ,a partial rotation. This automatic actuation of the basket forms, by ratchet mechanism in .the manner stated, is .notinterfered with ,by ,the relative movement ,on a curved .line between the basket forms and the stapling mechanism. More over, of course, the shifting we the stapling mechanism does not. interfere with the proper conversion of the'wire into staples and .t-he drivin pf these rstapl es, in the required manner,.such staples ,heing gnade in ,the usual manner from ,the wire by t he 22j,prev iously me ntiqmed.- In other words, the basket qforms are: not far enough apart ,to render thecam devices or-eccent'ric devices 19 inoperative to :properly; actuate the staplingmechanism, when the stapling mechanism is shifted from one basket -form to the other, and'the actuating mechanism is so constructed, of course, that, theptliiee staplers iare actuatai simultaneously properly timed relation to the step vbystep feeding ,movement of either;basket form, so

that the stapling operation ,isthe samein each case, regardless of which basketiorm .is cooperating with the stapling mechanism.

that Iclaim as my inventionis:

1. .In a machine ptor ,Inaking receptacles, the combination ,offa form; fastener driving ,mechanism adapted ,to 'copperate with said form to insert fasteners' infthe materials placed upon said form,instrumentalities whereby said fastener driving mechanism operated horizontall y and said, form intermittently rotated; about avertical ,a' 's ,to receive the fasteners, devicesfjvhereby ack and forth relative moyenient; vbetween said formand said mechanism abouta yertical axis is produced, causing said mechanism and said orm to alternately assume anoperative ,and an inoperative relation to each other, with said mechanism'betweensaid last mentioned vaxis and said form, and means operative about ,said ,last mentioned axis to actuate said mechanism.

A structure as specified inclaim 1, said form and mechanism being mounted to swing relatively about said last mentioned vertically disposed axis, whereby said ,rela- I I a ke -b n masse 's the -f tive movement is caused by relative swin mg movement o f said fastener driying mec a iis u between said form and saidlast men- ,tioned axis.

3. A structure as specified inclann 1, said form and mechanism .beingmounted to swing relatively about said last mentioned,

vertically disposed axis, whereby said relative movement is accomplished by relative back and forth movement of said fastener driving mechanism between said form and said lastmentioued axis, including a support whereby the axis of said form is sta tionary during such relative movement.

ratchet wheel d is spa e ,4;., A structure as s ecified in claim 1, said l itm ne al esi incl d n ta y means r in .9 ariis Qfwin m t said meqhamsm, which axis is parallel with he xi o said fo mstructure' iasspecified in claim 1, said mechanism comprising a plurality .of stapiers arranged one above another, together with feed ,devfices arranged one above, an- ,other for feeding wire to said, staplers, and me.a1i s to horizontal lateral movem 1 saidine hanism- IGQA structure asj'speciiied in claim :1, a ehani m er s ngs aple d po e ojne above lanotherfland adapted to swing aboutsaid last mentioned vertical axis to produce said relative movement, means for luid e ih opflstii lYon abov an ther b twe n t e apl rs, and. th ba k m t ri l Lon thetorm, and means for feeding wire to t aplfl Q I I ln-a. sket making m qbine; the mbi atie f a 'p i al y." 9 .'eta y a k t a s-m nte ,iip i ta en ry a i aset n' the lin .ef-a ble sta n me V anisrnl a rranged to swing from one gto'rm to the other, and"vice versa','about an axis coincident with the axis of said .circle and "parallel with th' axesof the forms", whereby ,i s -e r t Wi h's th v $9 39. aid ma .ae m b 49 dl ms dj w sai @2 1 of w nging ime em 'e and t id orm ea h .fermar tc s paw v-$ ine ic 1 y ie'th op r en.. fj h s 'plm' mech t v e ua at et w elfo e t e fo idep n' i fi'iponii' h fi 1am s'i ppet-a r e t Is i..' stap1 ng"mehaa sm; an d es or sh tin ai ,s epli msQh ns and at .pawl device from either form to the other, whereby, ei e e a may be loa d while the other for nis cooperating with said stapling mechanism. I

8. A structure as specified in claim 7, in combination with-guides common to both formsefor guiding hoop stripsbetWeen the stapl ng mechanism and the materials on either 'fo rm, disp0sed,so that the strips are between the form in operation and the a i of i m hanism, whe e y h sestq p at ben amend and taple to the vstructu re.as specified in claim 7, in combinat on with teed deyices carried by said swinging stapling mechanism, thereby 11. A structure as set forth in claim 7, com prising a horizontally swinging member upon which said stapling mechanism is mounted, a vertically disposed shaft forming the axis of swinging movement of said member, means on said shaft for actuating said stapling mechanism horizontally, and guiding means for said swinging member, said devices for swinging the stapling mechanism from one form to the other comprising gearing having link connection with said swinging menr her, and a handle for operating said gearing.

12. In a stapling machine, the combination of stapling mechanism, a shaft, eccentric means on said shaft to actuate said mechanism, means whereby said shaft forms an axis about which said mechanism is relatively movable, said shaft being vertically disposed, and supporting means whereby said mechanism is mounted for horizontal lateral movement and disposed in position to operate horizontally.

13. In a stapling machine, the combination of stapling mechanism, a shaft, eccentric means on said shaft to actuate said mecha nism, means whereby said shaft forms an axis about which said mechanism is relatively movable, and a hoop guide for said mechanism movable therewith relatively about said axis.

14. In a stapling machine, the combination of stapling mechanism, a shaft, eccentric means on said shaft to actuate said mechanism, means whereby said shaft forms an axis about which said mechanism is relatively movable, a rotary basket form, a ratchet for rotating said basket form, and eccentric means on said shaft to actuate said ratchet.

15. In a stapling machine, the combination of stapling mechanism, a shaft, eccentric means on said shaft to actuate said mechanism, means whereby said shaft forms an axis about which said mechanism is relatively movable, and wire feed devices movable about said axis.

16. In a stapling machine, the combination of stapling mechanism, a shaft, eccentric means on said shaft to actuate said mechanism, means whereby said shaft forms an axis about which said mechanism is relatively movable, rotary basket forms, the axes of said forms extending parallel with said shaft, a ratchet wheel for each form, a ratchet pawl carried by and movable with the stapling mechanism, whereby said mechanism and pawl are movable into operative relation with either basket form, and eccentric means on said shaft to operate said ratchet pawl.

17. In a machine for making baskets, a plurality of basket forms rotatable about vertically disposed axes and mounted a fixed distance apart, a stapling mechanism for operation alternately with said forms, disposed horizontally, means for causing relative back and forth movement between said forms and mechanism, whereby said mechanism may operate with either form while the other form is being loaded, a vertically disposed rotary shaft, means on said shaft to actuate said mechanism, and means to rotate said shaft, said mechanism being disposed between said shaft and said forms.

18. A structure as specified in claim 17, said mechanism being mounted to swing from one form to the other about said shaft as an axis.

19. A structure as specified in claim 17, a ratchet pawl common to both forms, movable from one form to the other, a ratchet wheel associated with each form to engage said pawl, and means on said shaft to actuate said pawl.

EDWARD CRAIG. 

